"While these moves were extremely tough, they were absolutely necessary to position us in the best possible place for future growth," said Sony Electronics president Mike Fasulo.

All told, Sony will shutter twenty Sony Stores in the United States. Affected locations span the country, while the 11 Sony Stores to remain open are in California, New York, Florida, and Texas. Sony had previously announced a retail "expansion" last April.

Matt Clark is a freelance writer covering the world of videogames, tech, and popular culture. Follow him on Twitter @ClarkMatt and MyIGN at Matt_Clark.